Salvation Army helps those in need

Cheboygan Salvation Army Business Manager, George Olson, recently summed up the organization’s job of serving those in need in three words: “soap, soup, salvation.”

By MARY BARKERmbarker@cheboygantribune.com

Cheboygan Salvation Army Business Manager, George Olson, recently summed up the organization’s job of serving those in need in three words: “soap, soup, salvation.” “We have to address their physical needs first. Then we can try to minister to their spiritual needs,” said Olson. “We are not judgmental. We try and weed out those who take advantage. But we try to help even when we have questions that they are slipping.” The Cheboygan Salvation Army office is classified as a service center. For nearly 100 years, until the early 1980s, Cheboygan supported a Salvation Army Church and full-time pastor. But, the size of the community was too small to financially support a full “corporate,” program, usually reserved for populations of 20,000 or more, and the church component was eliminated. However, John Morrison, pastor/officer for the Cheboygan Salvation Army works part-time ministering to the spiritual needs of clients.Persons seeking help come to the Social Services Center office and are interviewed as part of a screening process at the 444 S. Main St. headquarters. Following an initial interview, clients are referred to The Department of Human Resources as the next step in the process.Olson said the type of help offered depends on the individual’s needs. “Some are tooling along pretty well, but they may have an emergency; maybe they need dental help; maybe they lost their job or need some food or medical assistance. We will help them out of a dilemma a few times, but we stop if we feel we are being taken advantage of,” he said. “Other people come to us in crisis. Maybe they are stranded; have been kicked-out by a girlfriend or released from jail and have nowhere to go. If they are transients, it’s easy because they are on their way to somewhere else and we can help with a bus ticket or temporary shelter. We can put them in temporary shelter for up to three days.” Olson said the locals are more complex“It’s the locals who are difficult,” he continued. “We have no formal shelter here. We can put them up temporarily until we get a plan for them working with local agencies.”Olson said several area churches have food pantries, and The Lord’s Kitchen on 221 N. Bailey Street at the Church of the Nazarene provides a daily meal for free. The Salvation Army also has a food pantry. “If somebody hasn’t found their way to a local pantry by the time they come here, we will help out. There should not be people going hungry in Cheboygan.”John Morrison, officer/ pastor for the center, provides ministerial services to clients. “After their physical needs are met, next is their emotional and spiritual side. We try to get them to at least consider trying to fit God into their life,” said Morrison. Among those he ministers to weekly are clients of the Cheboygan Salvation Army’s model Transition House Program, where recovering addicts stay for up to a year before becoming completely independent. The program is a bridge of sorts for clients who are on the road to recovery, but need a structured and disciplined environment as a transition before becoming fully independent and contributing citizens in the community.The Salvation Army also operates a thrift store at its 444 S. Main St. headquarters. “It started as a hole in the wall and was totally unorganized …,” said Olson. ‘We purchased the building and that upped our profile. We hired good people and that set things in motion. The store is very successful. “We have a good reputation locally. The people who donate believe in our mission. All the money from the store goes back into services in Northern Michigan.”In addition, the Canteen Program, a “staple of the Salvation Army,” is very active in the area responding to emergencies and disasters and helping both victims and responders at the scene with refreshments, a warm blanket and a place to sit and rest for a bit. “These are big and traumatic events and people are usually dusty, dirty, hungry, thirsty and tired,” said Olson.A summer enrichment camp in Leonard, Mich., Echo Grove Camp, is part of the local Salvation Army’s charge. It focuses on youth, ages 8-12. Transportation is provided for the weeklong camp, which provides 24-hour supervision, counselors and instructors. Olson said the camp is outdoors oriented and the goal is to have fun. Cost is $25, but family discounts and scholarships are available.“It sounds strange, but some kids who come from tough backgrounds have to work at having fun. Maybe their only idea of fun centers around TV and videos. This camp is virtually all outdoor activities. We boat, fish, hike, swim in a pool and do other outdoor activities. There are three meals a day and snacks, and there are dorms or cabins to sleep in,” said Olson.Olson said when he came on board with the Cheboygan Salvation Army four years ago he inherited an organization that was very well run, and he has learned a lot maintaining and improving upon the programs in existence.“Now we have to look at our next purpose: meeting needs that are not being met. The indicators are that those needs are geared toward youth,” said Olson. He added that future leaders of the Salvation Army in Cheboygan will be called upon to strategize and plan on ways to address the needs of at risk youth in the area.“It’s a monumental challenge. We don’t have solutions right now. But we have to start looking at it,” said Olson.

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